[austinpike]

There are a handful of pink springs. The most common ones people refer to as "JDM pinks" have a rate of 257 lbs/inch front, 217 lbs/inch rear, and are intended to match with the stock STi struts. SPT sells a "pink" spring that is sold through US dealers and is intended as an upgrade for the WRX. Rates are similar to the stock STi springs. Putting these on an STi will not be much of an upgrade. There are other JDM pinks (including the "Tuned by Arai" springs) that have higher rates than the standard "pinks" and are too stiff to be paired with the stock STi struts.

If you are buying new, your best bet is to buy from a vendor that is known to sell the JDM "pink" springs. Only a few places are importing them. These include: (list will be updated w/additional confirmed vendors)

http://www.gruppe-s.com/
http://www.mauromotorsports.com/
http://www.racecompengineering.com/
http://www.z1auto.com/

If you are buying used, the way to determine whether you are getting the "JDM pinks" is by a paint marking on the second coil from the top - it should be light blue. The US/SPT pinks will have a white paint mark.

JDM "pinks"




The Group-N strut top mounts are easier to come by as they can be imported by US Subaru dealers. A number of larger dealers have performance parts divisions that sell them. (As well as the vendors listed above.)

Buying used is more of a challenge, since the same mold is used to create both the stock and Group-N parts and they are essentially identical in appearance. If you can compare the parts directly to stock, you should be able to feel the harder rubber of the Group-N parts. Beyond that, the Gp-N parts carry a different paint marking.

stock front: white ------ gp-N front: green (+different location)
stock rear: pink --------- gp-N rear: white or yellow

In each pic the '06 mount is upper left, the GP-N is upper right, '05 mount is front center (uninstalled.) The '05 stock front has the paint pretty much rubbed off, but you can see a hint of it in the same position as on the '06.





Another pic of a completed rear assembly with Group-N top. This one appears to have a yellow paint marking, in a different location than stock.


(thanks to Rev for the image)

note that since this is iwsti.com, comments above apply to the '04-'06 Impreza WRX STi - I have no idea if any of the info carries over to parts intended for earlier cars or other models (Forester, etc.)

mods feel free to edit/update, others add comments/experiences. Especially feedback on the white/yellow rear marks (vendors?)

[Z1 Performance]

sticky this!!!

[wdb]

Awesome work! This is has been sorely needed for a long time.

If anyone has information on other STi items that are only identifiable via paint marks, please let austinpike or a moderator know and we will get the information added to the FAQ.

[SCOOBYTRAP]

I ordered "Group N" front top hats and when they arrived they came in this box with STi logo and ST2031055000 part #. The front tops have the same green marks as described above. This part # on the box is directly from the SPT Genuine Subaru Performance Parts Catalog. So putting this all together:
GroupN Front top hats (green paint marks) = ST2031055000

...I like part #'s. Also shown here: http://www.subaru-sti.co.jp/e/GRN/parts/list.html

Please correct me if this is wrong.

However, without the box, you're left with paint markings and finger-nail durometer tests. How about the markings in the rubber? Anyone crack the codes?...you can see in these Pics (stock is on left):

[greddy1]

I like part numbers also. Here's a scan from the rear strut top mount box. Part number ST203704S020. My paint mark is white. The part number on my JDM pinks is ST203804010 and the paint mark is blue also. Hope this helps others. Great thread.

[wdb]

Thanks SCOOBYTRAP and greddy1 for the recent adds, great stuff.

[4banger]

I recently purchased a pair of Group-N front mounts. They have the green dot and makrings similiar to Scoobytrap's, but the part number from the box is B0310FE000. Where his mount says 1-4, mine says 1-1 The bottom of the mount also has the number 05100903 written in a dot matrix script. On the bottom of the bearing the words Koyo and Japan and the numbers 6302RS and 166 are written.

[WESTI]

i think there was a thread about this exact subject on nasioc or on this forum